BIBLE STUDY "I'm begging you"

"I'm Begging You!"

Tonight's topic and title is taken directly from Romans 12:1

Open with prayer  "let them that have ears to hear..."

Read ROMANS 12:1
     "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

Give brief description: 
1.  Letter written to the Romans (Christians in Rome, new converts, those questioning, possible ones that wanted to convert, etc)

2.  Written by by Paul

I would love to give a funny antidote to start this study of this particular verse but the urgency in which Paul is writing I felt as though that may take away from the seriousness of tonight's message.

The letter now at this point is about to switch from laying a good sound argument, i.e. doctrine, to Paul actually giving instruction if you will as to HOW we live out our Christian walk. 

"From Doctrine to Duty, From Creed to Conduct" -author?

Now to back up a step what we need to remember is that Paul is writing being inspired by the Holy Spirit, by God Himself, so what he is saying it is in fact GOD speaking to the intended audience.


I.  "I BESEECH you"
  In laymen terms, he is begging, but let us not forget that this is not a begging like we most commonly think of, but rather a heart felt plea to one that is in need.  God, by His grace, by His love is asking them/us, to DO what He is about to state.


II.  "therefore"
  I have heard many preachers and pastors define "therefore in which we should think of it as "what is it THERE FOR?"  and I tend to agree with that here as well. Again previously Paul had been laying, shall I say a very strong argument, or case for all the promises of God and how this doctrine, the doctrine of Christ is the one true way. 
                             
So...

it is "there for" reminding them/us of The validity and assurety of God.


III.  Brethren"
  I cannot go on with out addressing what seems to be a passing phrase or word, "brethren".  Paul is speaking to his christian brothers, although he is also speaking to Jews alike, he has now separated himself form the old way of life and now address's his real family, his CHRISTIAN FAMILY. 

WE ARE FAMILY!

"I'm Begging you, family!"


IV.  "By the mercies of God"
  Here's where it starts to get interesting:)  I know that I thought of Mercy to be that you are at someones "mercy!  But in this case it is the mercies of God...It seems to more appropriately translate to the "COMPASSION'S HE HAS"  God longs for His children to live for Him, so after Paul, being inspired by God has written "Chapters" 1-11, he is now as if God is saying it:

I feel deeply for you, please, you're my family"  Think about that, God loves His children so much that He is for lack of better words "pleading to you"

BUT what is God pleading with us to do?  Why is He "begging"?


V. That you(us) present our bodies as living sacrifices"
  The idea of a sacrifice at the time would have understandably been easy to picture and comprehend, both Jews and Pagans had and offered up sacrifices. 

BUT a LIVING SACRIFICE?!

How?  wait, WHAT?!
 
A sacrifice is something that you killed, it was alive, and now, you offer it up and it is dead!  How can a person, become a LIVING sacrifice?  A sacrifice, yes, but a living one, what?!

To make it as simple as possible, we are to die to OURSELVES.  Our sinful desires, lust of eyes, pride of life, self gratification, etc, kill it!

Then as we offer our life's as dead, we receive Christ who is alive, and so we now live for Him, with Him, because of Him.  Dead to self, alive to Christ, SEE?!

VI.  I end with what happens as we heed the call...

1.  We are made "HOLY", set apart for Gods will and purpose
2.  Because we are dead, and Christ is alive in us, we are now "ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD".
      * Remember there is nothing we can to make God love us or accept us, other than accept Christ by faith, only He is perfect and worthy.  Our worthiness is all Christ and NONE of us.  This is Gods grace defined.  "it is all because of God and his love sent to us, not by anything we have done or ever could do"
3.  Relax, if you are His child it is because you are called, now live it out.  James 1:22, "be doers of the word not hearers only" This is "OUR REASONABLE SERVICE" 

So as we close let me echo the words of Paul, being inspired of God, "I BESEECH you"  I'm begging you, offer yourself completely unto to god as a living sacrifice.  He has called you to live a life holy and worthy of His calling, and only He will "DO" it for you, to you, and through you.  I'm begging you.

Let us Pray...